Brain Tumor Surgery in India

A Brain tumor is referred to as an abnormal mass of cells in the brain that have no purpose. In general, tumors occur when cells divide and grow excessively in the body.

There are two types of brain tumors:

• Primary tumors– A primary tumor is a tumor that begins in the brain itself. It can be either benign (that does not contain cancer cells) or malignant (contains cancer cells)
• Secondary or Metastatic tumors– When a cancerous tumor starts elsewhere in the body and sends cells that end up growing in the brain, such tumors are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors.

Brain tumors can occur at any age and the exact cause of having a brain tumor is not clear, but certain risk factors may predispose you to the risk of developing a primary brain tumor. These include;

• Family history: Genetic inheritance of the brain tumor increases the risk of brain tumor.

• Exposure to radiation: exposure to ionizing radiation like X-ray and radiation therapy increases the risk of brain tumors.

The symptoms of brain tumors depend on their size, type, and location. The most common symptoms of brain tumors are severe and frequent headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurring of vision, loss of peripheral vision or double vision, gradual sensory and motor loss of arms or legs, difficulty in maintaining balance, speech, confusion, seizures, hearing problems and many more.

Brain tumors are named according to their site, type of tissue, and the cell that generates the mass. These can be gliomas, meningiomas, and schwannomas which are most common. The other types of brain tumors are pituitary tumors, ependymomas, and primary lymphoma of the brain.

With the advent of modern technology and advanced surgical modalities, brain tumors are no longer as scary as they used to be a few years ago. With modalities such as Gamma knife, Cyberknife, and Novalis Tx radiosurgery, brain tumors are effectively treated at IndiCure-associated hospitals for brain tumor treatment in India.

The success rate at these hospitals is at par with the best neurosurgery hospitals in the world. Not only the infrastructure is state of the art, but neurosurgeons are highly trained and experienced, and the cost of brain tumor surgery in India at our affiliate hospitals is much more affordable.

Treatment Options for Brain Tumor Surgery

Treatment of the brain tumor depends upon the size, location, and type of the tumor. The following are the most commonly used treatments for brain tumors:

• Pen surgery (Craniotomy): Surgery aims at removing the brain tumors which shall help in decreasing the disabling signs and symptoms. Craniotomy is a common and traditional procedure to access the tumor and remove as much tumor as possible and safely. The open surgery carries the risk of infection, bleeding and other complications like injury to the nearby nerve that may lead to vision loss. But at the same time, removing a tumor through open surgery sometimes becomes essential due to the size and type of the tumor.
• Minimally invasive surgery/ Micro craniotomy: Minimally invasive brain surgery or Micro craniotomy is done using highly advanced technology such as an intraoperative MRI suite. This is done for certain brain tumors deep under the surface of the brain. A small opening, around half an inch in diameter, is used to reach the tumor. Minimally invasive surgery minimizes damage to normal brain tissue overlying the tumor and is much safer than open surgery. However, not all tumors can be removed through this technique and it has its own limitations.
• Neuroendoscopy: Neuroendoscopy is also a minimally invasive surgery technique that uses specialized endoscopes with high-resolution video cameras to perform surgery on the brain. Tumors such as colloid cysts, pituitary tumors, meningiomas, and Craniopharyngioma can be removed using the technique. Various approaches used are endonasal and transsphenoidal removal of the tumor. IndiCure associated best brain tumor hospitals in India has specially trained neurosurgeons who perform these procedures. The advantages of these procedures are smaller incisions and bony openings which result in less scarring, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and quick recovery.
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Stereotactic radiosurgery has offered a new ray of hope to patients who cannot undergo traditional surgery either because of their frail health or because the tumor is located in an area that is too risky to access.
• Gamma Knife: Gamma knife is the most used radiosurgery to treat brain tumors. Gamma knife uses multiple beams of radiation to create a highly focused target for delivering the radiation treatment that aims to kill the tumor cells of small areas. Every single beam is not that powerful, but at the point where they converge at the site of the brain tumor, these emit large and powerful doses of radiation that kill the target cells. Gamma knife is the most advanced technology and is very precise in targeting tumor cells. The technology is now widely used as the choice of treatment for certain brain tumors, AVMs, and Trigeminal neuralgia.
• CyberKnife: Cyberknife again is a non-invasive technique to treat complex brain tumors. Cyberknife uses high-energy radiation treatment that delivers very precise beams of radiation from many angles outside the body. The accuracy of Cyberknife is so precise that radiation can be ‘matched’ to the shape of small complex tumors, even those located near critical organs. This ability allows Cyberknife to treat many lesions including many considered inoperable or untreatable with surgery.
• Radiation therapy: Novalis TX Radiosurgery offers new standards in radiosurgery treatment and gives new rays of hope to patients with cancerous and non-cancerous tumors who were otherwise considered inoperable. Novalis tx radiosurgery is non-invasive radiosurgery that offers the most precise delivery of radiation to the targeted area not only in the brain but in other parts of the body as well. It works by delivering a highly focused beam of radiation to the tumor without harming the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. The technology works by rotating around the patient to deliver treatment beams from virtually any angle in a matter of seconds. Since the treatment time is much less, damage to surrounding tissue is minimal. The sophisticated image guidance and motion management tools provide treating surgeons with detailed information about the size, shape and position of the targeted lesion to guide patient setup and positioning and monitor motion during treatment.
• Tumor Embolization: Neurointerventional Radiology is the amalgamation of the branches of neurology, neurosurgery, and radiology. The neurologist, neurosurgeon, and radiologist work as a team to offer this minimally invasive treatment for the abnormalities of the head, neck, and spine. Neurointerventional radiology provides minimally invasive and effective treatment for problems such as stroke, brain tumors, or aneurysms which otherwise may require a major surgery. The procedure works by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor which causes tumor cells to shrink and eventually die. This is particularly helpful in cases when the tumor is accessible or risky to remove

When is a Brain Tumor Surgery Required?

If you are suffering from symptoms such as frequent headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurring of vision, loss of peripheral vision or double vision, gradual sensory and motor loss of arm or legs, difficulty in maintaining balance, speech, confusion, seizures, hearing problems, you need to see a neurologist immediately. If you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, you need brain tumor surgery as soon as possible.

What is the Recovery after Brain Tumor like?

Recovery depends upon the type of surgery done and the medical condition of the patient. For procedures such as open surgery or Craniotomy, you would stay at the hospital for 8-10 days and recovery would take around 3-4 weeks, while with a non-invasive procedure such as gamma knife or cyberknife, recovery is much faster.

What Results Can I Expect from Brain Tumor Surgery in India?

The result of brain tumor surgery depends upon the size, location, and type of tumors. If the tumor has been completely removed, you can expect to lead a completely normal life, whereas in cases when it is secondary or cancerous, further treatment may be required and results depend upon the prognosis.